Advocacy

A tragic reality of the sex industry is that the women and girls trapped in it are often unable to speak up on their own behalf. Abusive pimps keep them isolated from their friends and family so that they have nowhere to turn for help. Even since the passing of the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, which protects those being exploited by making the users and perpetrators criminally responsible, many exploited individuals are still afraid to approach the police for assistance.

One way BridgeNorth helps these individuals is by speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves, from talking with people one on one all the way up to speaking before the federal government.

IndividualOn the individual level, BridgeNorth advocates for women and girls to get the help and services they need. They often require medical, psychological, and legal assistance in order to rebuild a healthy life outside of the sex industry. These services are usually quite difficult for them to find on their own, so we serve as the bridge to get them there.

CommunityIn order to increase the community resources for those who are being exploited, BridgeNorth has served in an advisory capacity in the creation of shelters and transitional houses that specifically serve trafficked individuals. Additionally, Casandra has been invited to speak on numerous occasions before law makers and others who have the power to enact regulation that will better protect women and girls who are being exploited, as well as prevent exploitation from happening in the first place.

NationalWhile we believe that true change begins at the grass-roots level, it needs to go all the way to the top. To that end, we work with Members of Parliament to help create laws that will protect victims of human trafficking. Casandra Diamond was invited to speak several times before the House of Commons and the Senate in favor of Bill C-36, which has since been passed into law as the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA). This revolutionary legislation, based on what is known as the Nordic model, removed the criminal burden from those who are being sexually exploited and placed it on the individuals who perpetrate exploitation. Criminalizing the purchase of sex will help to reduce the demand for a sex industry in Canada, meaning that fewer individuals will be trapped in it.

As of 2017, we are supporting new initiatives by federal politicians to study and recognize that the easy access to sexually explicit materials is harmful to children and has already become a public health crisis. By addressing the root causes and risk factors of sexual exploitation, we work to see the end of the sex trade in Canada.​